Compare towns
Foxborough vs Mount Desert vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Foxborough | Mount Desert | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,615 |
1,671Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
54.9±8.2Highest 41% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Foxborough and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,833±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$92,813±$9kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $606,300±$28k 82% above U.S. |
$522,100±$66kLowest 57% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$70 30% above U.S. |
$1,341±$89Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,275 133% above U.S. |
$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 282 in MA | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Foxborough | Mount Desert Public Schools | Dedham |
| High school in town | Foxborough High | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.